Electrical apparatus oil sampler and conditioner for solid state sensors
AssigneeServeron Corporation
InventorsSteven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas monitoring apparatus and system that provides for reliable and accurate monitoring of gaseous hydrogen and other compounds in dielectric oil. The apparatus provides an environment for and is used in conjunction with metal oxide semiconductor sensors. Thermal conditioning zones for oil provide an environment in which variations in oil temperature and ambient temperature are eliminated to insure that analytical data are not affected by these environmental conditions.
Claims19
Apparatus for thermally conditioning oil withdrawn from a transformer so that said oil may be analyzed, comprising:
- a manifold having a chamber;
- an inlet defining an oil pathway from the transformer into the chamber;
- a solid state sensing device in the chamber, said solid state sensing device adapted for direct exposure to and analyzing oil in said chamber;
- an outlet defining an oil pathway from the chamber to the transformer;
- a first thermoelectric cooler in communication with the manifold for heating and cooling the manifold;
- wherein said first thermoelectric cooler is operable to create a substantially isothermal environment for said solid state sensing device so that said solid state sensing device is operated substantially isothermally and wherein the manifold and the first thermoelectric cooler comprise a first thermal conditioning zone;
- and
- a second thermal conditioning zone that is thermally isolated from the first thermal conditioning zone, said second thermal conditioning zone comprising:
- a control circuit board for controlling said solid state sensing device:
- a second thermoelectric cooler;
- a thermal transfer block in communication with the second thermoelectric cooler;
- a heat transfer bracket in communication with the second thermoelectric cooler;
- and
- a heater plate in communication with the second thermoelectric cooler and the control circuit board.
Apparatus for thermally conditioning oil withdrawn from a transformer so that said oil may be analyzed, comprising:
- an oil cooling zone comprising:
- a pump;
- an oil cooler;
- a first thermal conditioning zone thermally isolated from the oil cooling zone, comprising:
- a manifold having a chamber;
- a sensing device in the chamber;
- a first thermoelectric cooler thermally attached to manifold;
- and
- a first heat transfer block thermally attached to the thermoelectric cooler;
- a second thermal conditioning zone thermally isolated from the oil cooler and the first thermal conditioning zone, comprising:
- a sensor control circuit board;
- a second thermoelectric cooler thermally attached to the sensor control circuit board;
- a second heat transfer block thermally attached to the thermoelectric cooler;
- an oil inlet flow path from the transformer and through the pump, the cooler and the chamber;
- and
- an oil outlet flow path from the chamber through the cooler and the pump and to the transformer.
A method for thermally conditioning oil withdrawn from a transformer so that said oil may be analyzed, comprising the steps of:
- a) inducing a flow of oil from the transformer to a chamber in a first thermal conditioning zone and exposing a sensor in the chamber to the oil;
- b) operating the first thermal conditioning zone with a controller to create an isothermal environment in the chamber;
- c) controlling the temperature of the chamber until the oil in the chamber reaches a pre-determined temperature;
- d) operating a second thermal conditioning zone to heat and/or cool the controller;
- and
- e) analyzing the oil with the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.